A welcome challenge

BTV: Ryan Crowley Media Conference - January 20, 2016Ryan Crowley spoke to the media after his first training session with Essendon.

Ryan Crowley participated in his first training session this morning

I struggled to even sleep last night after being down here. I was just so excited

Ryan Crowley

Ryan Crowley had no hesitation in accepting the Bombers’ offer late yesterday afternoon.

The midfielder’s well documented year away from football fuelled his ambition to return to the game at a senior level.

Disappointed at his delisting from Fremantle at the end of the 2015 season, Crowley’s new opportunity at the Bombers is one that he is truly excited for.

“I was craving this chance and now I have got it I am not going to let it slip,” Crowley said.

“My body is feeling great and my mind is right. I’m as eager as I’ve ever been.”

Crowley arrives at the Bombers during a challenging period for the Club.

Having lost 12 of its most experienced players, Essendon will rely on the youth to lift their game – whilst being supported by some of the older players in Brendon Goddard, Mark Baguley, David Zaharakis as well as new recruits Matthew Leuenberger and Craig Bird.

Crowley, however, believes the challenge presented to the team should serve as an inspiration for success rather than a negative.

“You’ve got people writing us off,” Crowley said.

“All the wins and all the good times that I can remember are times when people didn’t expect us to go well or didn’t expect you to go well and you did.

“We can take so much out of this year.

“I’m just really looking forward to the challenge.

“I struggled to even sleep last night after being down here. I was just so excited.

“I just can’t wait to crack in.”

The 31-year-old is ready to share his many years of experience as one of the top taggers in the league with some of his new teammates.

“We’ve got some really young talented kids, but they’ve still got a lot to learn,” Crowley said.

“Hopefully I can pass on some of my footy knowledge.

“I’ve played on some of the great players in the AFL over the journey, a lot of really, really quality AFL players and I think I can show them some stuff.”